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With each average ten minute track on the new Elder opus OMENS (Armageddon Shop, 4/24) the increasingly more progressive rock by leaps and bounds band of trailblazers head further into more exciting horizons. The standout cut “Embers” soars from almost flirting with Sunny Day Real Estate/Fairweather melodic but moody charm to sophisticated progressive alternative post metal. I know, that is a mouthful…but it’s pure ear heaven. They were always good, but the level of freedom in the current material is extremely exciting, melodic and strong chakra opening good shit. This record defies shuffle mode and rather than pouts simply works on capturing your complete attention with brilliant performances. Press play on the title track and just let it all go. Along with bands like Huntsmen, Bask and King Buffalo, they are helping lead the way for a new pack of innovators still coloring within yet expanding historical sub-genres.

Icons of world thrash Sepultura are the un-killable underground dynasty that refuses naysayers and continues to evolve and make bonds with new fans year after year. 2020 finds the band -Andreas Kisser (Guitars), Derrick Green(Vocals), Eloy Casagrande (Drums) and Paulo Jr. (bass) releasing one of the most incredible statements of the group’s storied legacy, Quadra. If you still only like the early eras you are willfully a stick in the mud or unable to hear greatness. “Isolation”, the pain exuding “Last Time”, the new class war anthem “Capital Enslavement” and the onslaught “Agony Of Defeat” are just a few examples of one of the most solid records in recent metal memory. Sepultura still have plenty of staying power!

“On ‘Quadra’, we felt the urge to revisit that old thrash feeling of ‘Beneath the Remains’ or ‘Arise’,’ only seen through the eyes of today,”Andreas Kisser utters the magic words. “Add to that the tribal percussion, the orchestral elements, the choirs, the melodies and the clean vocals and you get a thorough run-through of our entire career, backed by a very contemporary approach.”

Queensrÿche have many great eras and albums, the best of which is a hotly debated topic amongst rock fans. I love almost everything they have ever done (especially Empire, Condition Human, Tribe and Rage For Order being my personal faves – don’t yell at me Mindcrime fanatics, haha). It is flat out dumb not to respect them and consider them a very important legacy band. Tate and La Torre are both vocal giants who have led the always skilled line ups and there is always something to offer. Anyway, the band still kicks ass and The Verdict was another killer release last year on Century Media.

“Inner Unrest” is their new video from that album, a song tackling PTSD. “‘Inner Unrest’ is an abstract characterization loosely based on the struggles dealing with PTSD. The internal and external battles one must fight daily,” states Queensryche frontman Todd LaTorre about the track.

Winter may be around the bend but climate change is real and you will not find apathy from the Denver doom riff inclined metallic/nature honoring covenant known as Green Druid .

Who better than druids to know with a grim certainty that the Earth needs our help?

Want to hear one of the most timely and heavy slow molten lava toe tapping tempo songs on environmental issues all year? “The End of Men” has got you covered with a captivating psychedelic visualizer video HERE. We all have to embrace this moment in time and face this era with our most determined artwork, habits and as much pragmatism as we can muster in order to survive.

“The End of Men is a commentary on the general state of decay that our planet is currently in,” comments guitarist and vocalist Graham Zander. “In recent years it has become increasingly common for people among our generation to feel an overall sense of doom. This stems from everything from the impending climate apocalypse to world politics.”

If you were only allowed to pick one black metal album to hear for the rest of 2019, I would strongly suggest you choose False‘s Portent. A dizzying leap forward from an already very talented and rightfully well regarded act, it does not take long into ten minute opener “A Victual to Our Dead Selves” for the song to grab your undivided attention and never let go. Dedicated to the memory of several friends, the record is professional, passionate, heartbreaking and exhilarating. “Rime On The Song Of Returning” is an exceptionally poetic ode to natural abandon that seems to question our size in the scope of the march of time. The band have never sounded more precise, empowered and fiery, like there is a fortune teller at band practice urging them to claim destiny’s heights. If this album holds significance of metal’s future it is one that honors the best of the past while boding very well for the genre’s horizons.

Ohio’s Bes are a calamitous racket of alt-rock infused heavy sounds and have recently released the very worth your time Pieces Missing EP. Fans of Torche, Failure or even some KEN Mode will find stuff to latch on to here. I don’t know how intentional it was but I hear a lot of late nineties influence in some of what this band is doing, but paired with an even more aggressive edge befitting our times.

The best thing I have heard yet in 2019 is “ICE watch”, a completely rugged face buster from Arkansas hardcore band Terminal Nation which premiered at No Echo HERE. It will give you the insane over the top feels of a lot of heavy stuff without wondering if the band members have become weird conservative farts or are suddenly gonna cape for YAITW. The song even manages to out mosh the band’s recent tune “Pulse Of The Dead” from Absolute Control.

Good news is, TN have a split out with the homies in Neckbeard Deathcamp in February (it is sure to be a big year for both bands this year) and the gossip is we might get a TN full length this year as well. If you want to feel socially responsible while still doing reprehensible shit in the pit (I mean watch out for your peeps if someone falls down…but you know what I mean), this band will be entirely your shit. Bellowed vocals, powerviolence glory and a firm anti-xenophobia message.

Blues punks The Bobby Lees (Sam Quartin , Kendall Wind , Macky Bowman, Nick Casa) have been tearing it up on stages in Upstate, NY and around the country. While you may recognize Quartin from movie roles like the (forthcoming) Run With The Hunted and Let Me Make You A Martyr , this band is not a novelty project but a full fledged rock n rollercoaster. They totally scorch the stage with a howling sense of purpose and poetic sting, capturing a primal and at times even fun energy on Beauty Pageant . Feral animals and ghosts hiding in the trees agree that this band is the shit. This record and group truly deserve to be heard, so head to their Bandcamp and blast “Deem Em Dead” now. You can say you knew ’em when.

Upstate NY’s Surmiser are a grunge, hard rock and post punk marriage who play every note with the conviction of lifers who have long since given up the notion of turning back. The band is an excellent power trio and have just released their buzzed about latest effort Hold The Static.

Songs about depression, addiction and self assessment pair with focused but inspired soul eruptions that take you on a journey through a wide range of emotions. Surmiser are very much worth checking out, constantly working on ways to expand their impact and body of songs to mirror their experiences into something representative to their values in sonic form.

If you crave a sleazy, whiskey soaked grit to your rock n’ roll (with more than a hint of bar brawl or floor crawl inducing Link Wray and Motörhead inspired antics), proceed directly to your pre-scheduled bangover courtesy of the new Fine Spirits EP.

Harvey has worked with rock and metal people before ranging from Lemmy to David Vincent, but this new EP of slinky, kinky and far from watered down boozy crawlers is infectious and downright reckless. Each song on the EP will crawl into your ear and possess you to slink and shake while being as heavy as C.O.C. but as wild as the West. The replay factor on this is huge. Let’s hope Harvey & Wolfkeep this going awhile, cuz it sounds fun for them but is really fun for us!

Texan progressive metal powerhouses Oceans Of Slumber are one of the must watch acts of 2018. This band is incredible and compelling, constantly honing their craft and unafraid to develop a real emotional connection with listeners via the impressive musical arrangements paired with the moving and otherworldly vocals of Cammie Gilbert. This is one of the bands we are stanning so fucking hard this year. “The Banished Heart”, their gorgeous and emotional latest video, got 13k views in less than 24 hours! Not bad for a non-household name act still proving their staying power. In the bands words they are ,”…Binding the extreme with the grandiose and topping it with the soulful call of our very own siren.”

Exhorder have returned to thrash once more. The newest band lineup features founding members Vinnie LaBella (guitar) and Kyle Thomas (vocals) along with Jason Viebrooks (HEATHEN) on bass, Marzi Montazeri (ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS) on guitar and Sasha Horn (FORBIDDEN) on drums.

If you have ever enjoyed albums by bands like Pantera or Byzantine and somehow don’t know Exhorder, you ought to go do some catch up homework. While you are at it check out Kyle’s time in Alabama Thunderpussy as well, cuz that was also awesome.

The band will perform Slaughter In The Vatican, and sophomore album, The Law, in their entirety on Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10, respectively, at the St. Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, New York. Additionally they play a sure to be off the walls homecoming show in New Orleans at Southport Hall on February 12.

Exhorder have signed a worldwide management deal with All Independent Service Alliance (AISA) .

OMNIUM GATHERUM have just released their brand new single “Blade Reflections”. It is now available on all streaming and download platforms and will also be featured on a limited Edition Omnium Gatherum / Skalmöld split 7-inch, which will be available on the upcoming “Arctic Circle Alliance” European Tour (see below for all dates).

Singer Jukka Pelkonen comments, “In the light of recent events we wanted to voice our opinion about the tragedy of suicide. This is a subject that may concern anyone at some point. ʻBlade Reflectionsʼ is a statement against suicide and an encouragement to all of those who dwell in the depths of self-annihilation. Having been there myself too, I know how devastating it can be. There is nothing more precious than this life itself and it is worth seeing through. Though, we do not condemn those who choose to go, rather we want to stand by with all the rest, all of us, who are staying.”

The veteran Danish power thrashers have just released a new video for the song “When The Magic Is Gone”, taken off the band’s latest album, Penalty By Perception. To watch the video, please visit HERE.

Artillery comments: “Our new video ‘When The Magic Is Gone’ is a song about death and grief, it is a very personal song which shows the more mellow side of Artillery. The video was recorded in Norrebro, Copenhagen by Terkel Christensen (Aggressive Art) who is an old friend of Artillery.”

On Sept. 23rd, Artillery will start their co-headline tour with Onslaught. Artillery will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their Terror Squad album on this run, playing 5-6 songs from that album, plus new songs from their latest album Penalty By Perception, as well as some more classics. See HERE for dates.

Gold are really good. You should listen to them. I classified them in our power metal category only because if Gold played power metal that would actually maybe be the weirdest experimental music ever and very rad. They DO play their own awesome kind of music, which is different than what many bands are doing. Optimist has some sweet jams. “White Noise” has a great intro. Prepare to be melted in a metallic wash of BM, post-rock and plaintive melodic musings.

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Band Spotlight

With each average ten minute track on the new Elder opus OMENS (Armageddon Shop, 4/24) the increasingly more progressive rock by leaps and bounds band of trailblazers head further into more exciting horizons. The standout cut "Embers" soars from almost flirting with Sunny Day Real Estate/Fairweather melodic but moody charm to sophisticated progressive alternative post metal. I know, that is a mouthful...but it's pure ear heaven. They were always good, but the level of freedom in the current material is extremely exciting, melodic and strong chakra opening good shit. This record defies shuffle mode and rather than pouts simply works on capturing your complete attention with brilliant performances. Press play on the title track and just let it all go. Along with bands like Huntsmen, Bask and King Buffalo, they are helping lead the way for a new pack of innovators still coloring within yet expanding historical sub-genres.